How to Install qBittorrent on Linux Mint 21 or 20

qBittorrent is a free, open-source torrent client that has become increasingly popular among users who want to download and share files through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. Its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and robust performance have made it a preferred choice for many, especially those who prioritize privacy and security.

Compared to its competitors such as uTorrent, Transmission, and KTorrent, qBittorrent stands out for its ad-free experience, lack of bundled software or toolbars, and open-source nature. It provides users with features such as support for magnet links, remote control through the web user interface, sequential downloading, and IP filtering.

uTorrent, on the other hand, has been criticized for displaying ads and being slow in its performance. Meanwhile, Transmission is often limited in its features, making it less appealing to users who require more functionality. KTorrent, while well-featured, is exclusive to KDE desktop environments, limiting its accessibility to other Linux users.

qBittorrent’s popularity can also be attributed to its active development community and continuous updates that improve its performance and add new features. Additionally, its cross-platform compatibility makes it accessible to users on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

This guide will demonstrate how to install qBittorrent on Linux Mint using the command line terminal and the official qBittorrent LaunchPAD PPA APT repository. This method is considered the most reliable and secure, ensuring you install the latest stable version of qBittorrent and receive updates automatically.

Update Linux Mint

Before installing qBittorrent, it’s important to ensure your system is up-to-date. Open the terminal and run the command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install Dependencies

Once your system is up-to-date, you must install the necessary dependencies for qBittorrent. Run the command:

sudo apt install dirmngr ca-certificates software-properties-common apt-transport-https

This command will either install the necessary packages or check if they are already installed.

Import qBittorrent PPA

To install qBittorrent, import the “qBittorrent Team” PPA containing the latest version. Before importing the GPG key, you may encounter issues with missing directories. To generate the necessary directories, run the command:

sudo gpg --list-keys

Example output:

gpg: directory '/root/.gnupg' created
gpg: keybox '/root/.gnupg/pubring.kbx' created
gpg: /root/.gnupg/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created

This command will create the necessary directories, and you can proceed with the import of the GPG key.

Use the following command to import the GPG key for the PPA.

sudo gpg --no-default-keyring --keyring /usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 401E8827DA4E93E44C7D01E6D35164147CA69FC4

Example output:

gpg: keybox '/usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg' created
gpg: key D35164147CA69FC4: public key "Launchpad PPA for qBittorrent Team" imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:               imported: 1

After importing the GPG key for qBittorrent, you can import either the stable or unstable (nightly) PPA. The stable PPA is recommended for most users as it’s frequently updated with the latest stable version of qBittorrent. On the other hand, the unstable PPA may introduce bugs that can cause issues with your qBittorrent client.

Importing the correct PPA repository that matches your Linux distribution version is important. This is essential to avoid compatibility issues when using an incompatible PPA repository. Double-check that you’ve selected the correct PPA repository before installing.

Import qBittorrent PPA for Linux Mint 21:

Import the stable PPA.

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu/ jammy main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qbittorrent.list

Import the unstable PPA.

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-unstable/ubuntu jammy main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qbittorrent.list

Import qBittorrent PPA for Linux Mint 20:

Import the stable PPA.

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable/ubuntu/ focal main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qbittorrent.list

Import the unstable PPA.

echo 'deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg] https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-unstable/ubuntu focal main' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qbittorrent.list

Install qBittorrent – Desktop GUI Method

After importing the qBittorrent PPA repository, you must run a quick APT update to reflect the newly added PPA. This will ensure your system recognizes the new repository and can install qBittorrent.

To run the APT update, open the terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update

This command will update your system’s package list to include the newly added qBittorrent PPA. Once the APT update is complete, you can proceed with installing qBittorrent using the updated package list using the following command:

sudo apt install qbittorrent

How to Launch qBittorrent – Desktop GUI Method

To launch the qBittorrent desktop version of stable or unstable, you can use the following command in your terminal session:

qbittorrent

If you prefer to launch qBittorrent using an application icon, you can use the following path:

Taskbar > Internet > qBittorrent

Example:

When you first launch qBittorrent, you’ll have a pop-up window containing a legal notice. This notice is a standard disclaimer that many torrent clients display, and it’s important to read it carefully to understand the risks and responsibilities of torrenting.

After agreeing to the legal notice, you’ll see the qBittorrent interface. This is where you can manage your torrent downloads and uploads. The interface is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, even for novice Linux users.

In the qBittorrent window, you’ll see a menu bar at the top with options for adding torrents, managing downloads and configuring the application settings. You can also see the progress of your current downloads, including the download speed, remaining time, and the number of seeds and peers.

Example:

Install qBittorrent-nox – Server Method

qBittorrent can be installed on a Linux desktop or a headless server like Ubuntu and efficiently managed using a WebUI interface accessible from your favorite browser. This guide will cover installing qBittorrent-nox, the headless version of qBittorrent, designed to run through a web interface accessible on the default localhost location at http://localhost:8080.

To install qBittorrent-nox, start by updating your system’s package list using the following command:

sudo apt update

Next, install qBittorrent-nox using the following command:

sudo apt install qbittorrent-nox

qBittorrent-nox is the default go-to for headless clients, and unlike the desktop version, you won’t be able to do anything while qBittorrent is running if you launch it through the terminal. Instead, you’ll need to create a systemd service unit to run in the background and start at system boot.

To do this, first, create a qbittorrent-nox user and group using the following command:

sudo adduser --system --group qbittorrent-nox

Next, add your username to the qbittorrent-nox user group using the following command:

sudo adduser your-username qbittorrent-nox

Example using my username:

sudo adduser joshua qbittorrent-nox

Example output:

After this, create a systemd service file for qbittorrent-nox using the following command:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/qbittorrent-nox.service

Copy and paste the following lines into the file:

[Unit]
Description=qBittorrent Command Line Client
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=forking
User=qbittorrent-nox
Group=qbittorrent-nox
UMask=007
ExecStart=/usr/bin/qbittorrent-nox -d --webui-port=8080
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Example:

Save the file (CTRL+O), then exit (CTRL+X). Now, reload your systemd daemon for changes to be active with the following command:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Now you can start qBittorrent-nox with the following command:

sudo systemctl start qbittorrent-nox

If you want qBittorrent-nox to be started on boot, use the following command:

sudo systemctl enable qbittorrent-nox

Before you continue, it’s a good idea to check the status to ensure everything is working correctly using the following command:

systemctl status qbittorrent-nox

If there are no errors and the status is green, then qBittorrent-nox is now installed and ready to use. You can access the WebUI by opening a web browser and navigating to http://localhost:8080. The default account username is (admin), and the password is (adminadmin), but you should change these credentials as soon as possible for security reasons.

Accessing qBittorrent Web UI

qBittorrent’s web user interface (Web UI) can be accessed from your local network using your favorite web browser. To access the Web UI, type the server’s internal IP address and port number (8080). For example, if the server’s IP address is 192.168.55.156, you would type 192.168.55.156:8080 into your web browser’s address bar. If you are accessing qBittorrent on the same computer installed, you can use the localhost address 127.0.0.1:8080.

After entering the address, you should see the qBittorrent Web UI page. This page provides you with an easy-to-use interface for managing your torrents. You can add new torrents, monitor your download and upload progress, and adjust your settings from the Web UI. The interface is similar to the desktop version of qBittorrent, so if you’re familiar with the desktop version, you should have no trouble using the Web UI.

By default, the Web UI access is secured; the default account username is “admin,” and the password is “adminadmin.” It’s recommended that you change these credentials as soon as possible to ensure the security of your system.

Example of qBittorrent-nox on Linux Mint dashboard:

It’s highly recommended to change the default username and password for your qBittorrent Web UI to ensure the security of your system. First, open the Web UI using Tools > Options > Web UI > Authentication.

Next, you can change the default username and password to something more secure. Choosing a strong and unique password is important to prevent unauthorized access to your system. You may also consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords.

Changing the default username and password is a quick and easy step that can significantly enhance the security of your system. By taking this simple precaution, you can ensure that your system is protected from potential security threats.

Additional Tips

Update qBittorrent or qBittorrent-nox

Keeping your qBittorrent up-to-date is important for optimal performance and security. Updating and upgrading qBittorrent can be done quickly and easily using the command line terminal. First, run the following command to update your system and ensure all packages are current.

sudo apt update

Upgrade to the latest version using the following command if an update is available for qBittorrent or qBittorent-nox.

sudo apt upgrade

Remove (Uninstall) qBittorrent or qBittorrent-nox

If you decide to remove qBittorrent from your system, it’s a simple process. First, you need to remove the custom PPA that you added. Use the following command to remove qBittorrent if you installed it using the desktop GUI.

sudo apt remove qbittorrent

If you installed qBittorrent-nox, use the following command.

sudo apt remove qbittorrent-nox

Finally, remove the PPA that you imported with the following command.

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/qbittorrent.gpg
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/qbittorrent.list

Once you’ve removed qBittorrent, you can repeat the installation process to reinstall it on your system. Keeping your software up-to-date and removing any unnecessary programs is an important part of maintaining the performance and security of your Linux system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, qBittorrent is an excellent and reliable torrent client for Linux with many features. It’s a great choice for users who want to download and manage their torrents with ease. Compared to other popular torrent clients, qBittorrent is known for its user-friendly interface, ad-free experience, and low resource usage.

This guide demonstrated installing qBittorrent on Linux Mint using the command line terminal. We’ve also covered how to install qBittorrent-nox for headless servers and how to access qBittorrent Web UI to manage your torrents.

Additionally, we’ve provided instructions on how to update and upgrade qBittorrent and how to uninstall it if necessary. By following these steps, users can keep their system up-to-date, optimize their torrent downloads, and maintain the security and performance of their Linux system.

Overall, qBittorrent is a popular and reliable torrent client for Linux, providing an efficient and user-friendly experience. With the information provided in this guide, users can confidently install and manage qBittorrent on their Linux Mint system.

FAQs on qBittorrent with Linux Mint